Sadiq Batcha, A Raja's close aide dead

CHENNAI: In a dramatic twist in the 2G spectrum probe, Sadiq Batcha, a close aide of former Telecom Minister A Raja and under investigation in the case, died in mysterious circumstances with his family claiming he committed suicide.

"He was brought dead to the Apollo hospital at about 1:30 pm. The family says he had hanged himself. Police is yet to verify anything. We are investigating," Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendran told PTI.

Police have rushed to his house and are conducting enquiries.

When the body of 47-year-old Batcha was taken to the hospital, doctors declared him "brought dead."

Hospital sources said the body would be taken to a government hospital for post-mortem.

Batcha was the Managing Director of Greenhouse Promoters, a firm under the scanner of the CBI as well as the Enforcement Directorate.

The CBI along with the ED had conducted searches at his premises late last year.

Both CBI and ED were probing the possibility of his firms acting as a front for the former minister.

Both the agencies have questioned him earlier in connection with the case.

Incidentally, Raja's wife M A Parameshwari, was a director of Green House Promoters.

Sources said Raja's other relatives are also reported to be associated with the firm.

Batcha owned several other firms, and agencies are examining if his firms could have acted as a front for possible kickbacks in the scam, the sources said.

As he heads several real estate firms, the agencies are trying to find out any money trail related to them in the scam.

Shahid Balwa, MD of DB Realty, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail after being arrested by the CBI in connection with the 2G scam probe, has told the agency that he knew Batcha for the past few years.

Sources said the agencies are focusing on the financial dealings of Batcha to find out how a company that began operating a few years back, went onto to create assets worth several hundred crores of rupees in just a short span of time.

Earlier, CBI sources had said that Batcha helped Shahid Balwa and other private companies in striking business deals in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu. He was also Raja's main conduit for investing ill-gotten money in other companies in Tamil Nadu.

Raja reportedly knew Batcha for long. The Singapore-arm of the company (Green House) was set up in 2007, during the allocation of the 2G licences and spectrum.